CHAMPS GOR MARK TIME: Tusker sit pretty at top of KPL table as Leopards nurse Mumias wounds

KPL GOR FC vs POSTA RANGERS FC Posta Rangers Jockins Atudo (left) and Gor Mahia's Medie Kagere during KPL match at Nyayo National Stadium. August 14, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

It was another frustrating weekend for Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia as pressure continued mounting on coach Jose Marcelo after a disappointing barren draw with Posta Rangers at the Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.

For the third time in a row in less than five weeks, Gor, second, failed to capitalise on league leaders Tusker’s slip-up to close the gap at the top.

Gor Mahia ended up registering a third consecutive barren draw in round 22 of the KPL. Western Stima had done Gor Mahia a big favour to hold the brewers to a 1-1 the day before in Machakos, only for the 15-time champions to allow Paul Nkata’s men to maintain a four-point gap (41 points).

The hunger was apparent from both sides, with K’Ogalo desperate for points as they looked to narrow the gap to two points. But they were rattled by Rangers’ counter-attacking approach in the opening 20 minutes and defensive tactics in the final quarter of the game with Gor’s twin striking of Jacques Tuyisenge and Meddie Kagere failing to click.

In Mumias, frustration also boiled over as Kakamega Homeboyz gave AFC Leopards a hiding, mauling Ingwe 4-1 to the disappointment of their travelling fans.

By half-time, a disjointed AFC had already soaked in four goals and needed a miracle to make a comeback in a match marred by crowd trouble.

The emphatic victory gained Homeboyz a measure of revenge for last month’s 2-0 GOtv Shield knock out match defeat to Ingwe and go level on points (33) with fifth-placed Chemelil Sugar, whom they have edged out on a better goal difference.

Like a wounded lion, the hosts seized the initiative from the first minute of the game, controlling the proceedings and made the Ivan Minnaert’s side look so ordinary with their flair and intricate passing denying the tenth placed AFC an opportunity to settle into their rhythm.

To add to AFC’s disappointment, there was an own goal from defender Eugene Ambulwa after a mix-up with goalkeeper Ian Otieno. This came just moments after super substitute Kepha Aswani had pulled a goal back for Leopards.

But as Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards endured a torrid weekend , it was jubilation in Mathare United camp as the former champions ended their five game winless streak with a hard fought 1-0 win over bottom placed Nairobi City Stars.

“Yes, it was a scrappy win because we scored from a set piece situation, but we are relieved to be back in top three. We have been hanging there since the beginning of the season, so the victory is definitely a big morale booster to us,” a relieved Mathare United coach Francis Kimanzi told Feverpitch.

And as Mathare piled more misery on the Kawangware-based side, Sofapaka moved off the bottom of the table for the first time in many months after beating their relegation rivals Ushuru 2-0, on Saturday.

It was the second win in a row for Batoto Ba Mungu.

Sofapaka thrashing Nairobi City Stars 5-0 last week and have leapfrogged them into the 15th position, after 21 ties.

“The league is a marathon and that was important for us. We just need to keep on believing and have the nerves in the upcoming games. It feels great to win two games on the trot for the first time this season,” said an elated Sofapaka coach David Ouma.

While in Muhoroni, it is Lwamba Bebeto’s first half penalty that the seventh placed Muhoroni Youth all needed to end Thika United’s four game unbeaten run.

[email protected]